Apparatus for the automatic weighing of a predetermined amount of stockmaterial



Dec. 11, 1962 TOMlJl TARUKAWA APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC WEIGHING OF APREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF STOCK-MATERIAL Filed April 4, 1958 5Shee'bS-Shee'h l S S5 y? -33 5 92 .71

Dec. 11, 1962 ToMlJl TARUKAWA 3,067,827

APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC WEIGHING 0F A PREDETERMINED AMOUNTOFSTOCK-MATERIAL Filed April 4, 1958 .5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figwm De- 11, 1962ToMlJl TARUKAWA 3,067,827

. l APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC WEIGHING OF A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OFSTOCK-MATERIAL Filed April 4, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States PatentGiltiee 3,067,827 Patented Dec. 11, 1962 3,tl6'7,27 APPARATUS FOR THEAUTOMATIC WEIGHENG F A PREDEEERMINED AMGUNT 0F SCK- MATERHAL Tomi-iiiTarulrawa, 5556 chome, Kamiitahashi-lviachi, Itahashi-ku, Tokyo-to,Japan Fiied Apr. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 726,571 Claims priority, applicationJapan Apr. l2, 1957 2 Claims.- (Cl. 177-82) The present inventionrelates to an apparatus for precise weighing of a predetermined amountof any stock-material.

A main `object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for preciseweighing of a predetermined amount of any stock-material capable ofautomatically weighing the stock-material by means of an electric switchdevice which is opened or closed in response to the displacement of amember of the weighing device without accompaniment of any mechanicalresistance against said displacement.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ap.-

paratus for precise weighing of a predetermined amount of anystock-material with said electric switch device in which the preciseweighing of the stock-material is carried out by discharging an excessamount of the stockmaterial. v A further object of this invention is toprovide an apparatus for precise weighing of a predetermined amount ofany stock-material with said electric switch device, in which chargingoperation of the stock-material is manually started after discharge ofthe charged material and discharge of the charged material isautomatically started upon charge of a predetermined amount of thestock-material.

A still further'object of this invention is to provide an apparatus forprecise weighing of a predetermined amount of any stock-material withsaid electric switch device, in which charging operation of thestock-material is automatically started after discharge of the chargedmaterial and discharge of the charged material is manually started aftercharge of a predetermined amount of the stock-material.

Said objects and other objects of this invention have been attained byan apparatus for weighing a predetermined amount of any stock-material,which comprises a weighing tank provided with an auxiliary dischargedevice capable of discharging an excess amount of the stockmaterial, aweighing device having a member which responds to changes in weight ofthe stock-material in the weighing tank so as to take a medium-positionor an .Y

excess-position according to -a predetermined amount or an excess amountof the stock-material charged in the weighing tank, an electric switchdevice which is opened or closed in response to the displacement saidmember of the weighing device to said medium or excess-position withoutaccompaniment of any mechanical resistance against said displacement,and an electric circuit incorporating said electric switch device withsaid auxiliary discharge device, said electric circuit operating so asto make discharge operation of said auxiliary discharge device beginthrough said electric switch device in response to the displacement ofsaid member of the weighing device to said excess-position, saiddischarge operation being stopped by restoration of said member of theweighing device to said medium-position through said electric switchdevice.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristics of thepresent invention are -set forth with particularity in the appendedclaims, the present invention itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and operation,

together wih further objects and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similarmembers are indicated by the same or similar references, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus of this invention;

PEG. lA is an enlarged schematic View of a switch S5 used in theembodiment in FIG. l;

FlG. 1B is an enlarged schematic view of a switch S8 used in theembodiment in FIG. l;

PEG. 1C is an enlarged schematic view of a photoelectric relay R used inthe embodiment in FIG. 1;

FG. 2 is a schematic view of a modified apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic connection View of another modified apparatus ofthis invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a weighing tank 21 is mounted on the weighingboard 5 of a weighing beam A through a turret 4i). This weighing beam Ais provided with a balance beam 1, an adjuster 2 hung on said beam, aSupporter 4 for said beam and a balance weight holder 3. Said weighingtank is provided with a door 22 hinged thereto at 22a so as to be closedor opened by winding or opened by winding or unwinding a string 29 whichis attached, at its lower end, to said door and, at its upper end, to arotatable shaft 26. This shaft is coupled with the shaft of an electricmotor M1 through a clutch 27 which is always pushed by a spring 30 so asto be clutched. The clutch 27 is coupled with a crank lever 33 pivotedat a pivotal shaft 33a, said lever being attached to a moving iron corein an electromagnetic coil m4 which is connected to the input terminalsthrough a switch S5 and a time switch TG2 which opens the circuit of theelectromagnetic coil m4 with a time lag. The tank 21 is provided with adischarge conduit 38 having a cover 23 and being communicated with theinterior of the tank 21. A vane wheel 25 is supported in said conduit soas to be rotated by its shaft 24 which is coupled with a rotatablysupported shaft 32 through a flexible shaft 32a, said shaft 32 beingcoupled with the shaft of the motor M1 through a clutch 28. The clutch27 is made so as to be effective in only one rotating direction of themotor M1 and the clutch 28 is made so as to be elective in only anotherrotating direction of said motor. The motor M1 is connected to the inputterminals through the parallelly connected electromagnetic switches S6and S7 so that when the switch S6 is closed, the shaft 32 may be drivenand when the switch S7 is closed, the shaft 26 may be driven. A brakemeans 34 is provided to hold shaft 26 against rotation except when thestring 29 is being either wound or unwound.

An accumulator 7 containing any powdery stock-material to be weighedcommunicates with a feed pipe 8 which is provided with a screw conveyor8a therein and arranged so that when the driving shaft of said conveyoris driven the stock-material in said accumulator may be supplied to saidtank 2l. The driving shaft of the screw conveyor 8a is coupled with thedriving shaft of an electric motor M by means of a pulley 9 attached tothe shaft of said screw conveyor 8a, a pulley 9a attached to the shaftof said electric motor M and a belt 9b hung around said pulleys.

A device B is composed of an exchange shaft 10 and a disc piece 11 onsaid shaft 10. The shaft 10 is provided with magnetic cores at each ofits ends, each of said cores being combined with an electromagnetic coilm1 or m2 so as to be attracted by one or other of said coils in the caseof excitation of one of said coils. When the shaft 1t) is attracted toleft (in the drawings, FIG. 3) by excitation of the coil m1, the discpiece 11 on the shaft l@ pushes the movable contact piece r3 of theswitch S5 against a lspring r4 through a lever f5 so as to close aContact r2, and when the shaft il@ is attracted to right by excitationof the coil m2, a contact r1 is closed by the spring r4 as shown in FIG.lA.

Beside the balance beam 1 is arranged a photo-electric relay R composedof a photocell n2, an electric source n3, a relay coil nl, and a switchSm so that when the balance beam l is in such a lowered position asshown by full line in FIG. 1C, said relay may be shut yoff from thelight beam directed from an electric lamp through a condenser lens 2dand a movable contact piece p1 of the switch Sh, may be brought incontact with a contact p3, and when the balance beam il is in such araised position as shown by dotted line in FG. 1C, said light beam maybe directed to said relay .R and the coil u1 may be excitar so as toattract the contact piece p1 to close the contact p2.

There is provided a changing 'device composed of switches S5 and S10, abell-crank il having a weight '52, and electromagnetic coils mg and m9.in this changing device, the switch S9 is closed by excitation of thecoil m8 and the switch S15 is closed by excitation of the coil m9.

There is also provided a switch S8 which responds to the opening andclosing of the door 22 of the weighing tank 2li. This switch S5 iscomposed of contacts g1 and g5, a movable contact piece g2, and a springg5. When the door 22 is opened, the movable contact piece S2 is broughtin contact with the contact g1 by force of the spring g5, and when thedoor 22 is closed, the movable contact piece g2 is pushed by aprojection g4 of the door 22 against the force of the spring g5 to bebrought in contact with the contact g3.

The above members are connected as shown in the drawings.

The operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. l is as follows.

Let it be assumed that the weighing beam 1 is adjusted by a weight puton the holder 5 and by the adjuster 2 s0 that when a predeterminedamount of the powdery stocl'- material is supplied into the tank 21, thebalance beam 1 may be brought in balanced horizontal position. Now, whenthe door 22 is closed after such discharge of the stock-material in thetank 21 into a container 37 through a guide conduit 36 as will beexplained hereinafter, the balance beam 1 lowers, whereby the light beamfrom the electric lamp 19 is shut off by the balance beam 1 as shown byfull line in FIG. 1C. This causes the Contact piece p1 to be brought incontact with the contact p3.

At the beginning of the operation of this apparatus, a push button P.Sis pushed to be closed. Due to closing of the switch P.S, both the coilsm2 and m9 are excited, the coil m2 operating to bring the Contact piecer3 of the switch S5 in contact with the Contact r1 by attracting theshaft and the coil m9 operating to close the switch S10 by attractingthe bell crank 41. Thus, a following circuit is established through acoil m3 of a switch S3 for the motor M.

By excitation of the coil m3, the switch S3 is closed, whereby the motorM starts and the stock-material in the accumulator 7 is supplied intothe tank 21 by the operation of the screw conveyor Sa driven by saidmotor M through the belt 9b and pulleys 9 and 9a. Next, when the chargedstock-material in the tank 21 reaches a predetermined amount, thebalance beam 1 rises to its balance position and the charging of thestock-material still continues. However, when the charged stock-materialin the tank 21 exceeds `a precise predetermined amount in its weight,the balance beam 1 rises higher so that the balance beam 1 may allow thelight beam to pass to the photoelectric relay R. Thus, the relay coil nlattracts the Contact piece P1 to bring it in contact with the contactP2. Accordingly, the circuit through the coil ma is broken at thecontact P3 to stop the motor M so as to stop the charging action of theconveyor Sa. Meanwhile, a circuit is established through followingpoints.

ms-P2-P1-g3g2"13 Thus, the switch S9 is closed due to excitation of thecoil m8 and the switch S15 is opened. The opening of the switch S10serves to secure the broken state of said circuit passing through thecoil m3. ln this state, said circuit through the coil m3 can not becompleted even when the contact P3 of the switch Sla is closed due tochattering action ofthe balance beam 1.

On the other hand, another circuit is established at the same timethrough the following points.

Thus, the coil m5 is excited to close the switch S5, causing the motorM1 to run. As a result, the flexible shaft 32a is rotated through theclutch 2S and the shaft 32, whereby the vane wheel 25 is driven by saidflexible shaft 32a to ydischarge the stock-material from the tank 21into a container 39 through the conduit 38 and the pipe 38a. Thisdischarge of the stock-material serves for removing an excess amount ofthe stock material which is supplied owing to various conditions such asinertia of the driving means.

Next, upon decrease of the stock-material in the tank 21 to a precisepredetermined amount, the balance beam 1 is restored to its horizontalposition. Thus, the light beam is shut off by the balance beam 1, sothat the contact piece p1 of the switch Sla is brought in contact withthe contact p3. Accordingly, the circuit including the coil m5 is brokenat the contact p2 to deenergize the coil m5, so that the switch S5 isopened so as to stop the motor M1. Thus, the vane wheel 25 stops to stopthe discharging action thereof. In this state, the tank 21 is chargedwith a precise predetermined amount of the stock-material.

Meanwhile, when the balance beam 1 takes the horizontal position, thecoil m1 is connected to the input terminals through the followingcircuit.

nl-Ss-Pa-Pi-ga-gz- 1-1 a Accordingly, the coil m1 is excited to pull theshaft 10, whereby the switch S5 is exchanged by the disc 11 to bring themovable contact piece r3 in contact with the contact r2.

Due to the exchange of the switch S5, the electro-magnetic coil m4 isexcited, so that it pulls the crank lever 33, whereby the clutch 27 isreleased and the string 29 is unwound by the weight applied on the door22 so as to open the door 22. Upon opening of the door 22, the weighedstock-material in the tank 21 is discharged into the container 37through the guide conduit 36.

On the other hand, a time switch TG2 in the circuit of the coil m4 isoperated upon lapse of a suitable time lag corresponding to a timeneeded for the complete opening of the ldoor 22, whereby the circuit ofthe coil m4 is automatically opened upon said complete opening of thedoor 22 and the crank lever 33 is restored.

Now, when the charging operation of the stock-material into the weighingtank 21 is to be started again, it is only necessary to push thepush-button P.S. That is to say, upon operation of said push-button P S,the electromagnetic m2 is excited and the shaft 10 is pulled rightward,whereby the switch S5 and the time switch TG2 are restored. Due to therestoration of the switch S5, the coil m7 is connected to the inputterminals through the following points.

The excitation of the coil m7 causes the switch S7 to close and themotor M1 to rotate in the reverse direction, whereby the shaft 26 isdriven so as to wind up the string 29, causing the door 22 to close.

Upon closing of the door 22, the contact piece g2 is brought in Contactwith the Contact g3 and the Contact g1 is opened, whereby the coil m7 isopened and the motor M1 is stopped. On the other hand, the coil m3 iscon- 5, nected to the input terminals as explained hereinbefore. Thus,feeding operation of the stock-material into the weighing tank 21commences as previously described.

The apparatus of FIG. 1 as above described relates to the case, in whichthe stock-material supplied in the weighing tank 21 is automaticallydischarged after precise weighing of a predetermined amount of thestockmaterial and supply of the stock-material into said tank ismanually performed. However, said apparatus may be modified so that saidsupply may be automatically carried out after complete discharge of thestock-material from the weighing tank and said discharge may be manuallyperformed.

Such modification can be easily obtained as shown in FIG. 2 byconnecting the electromagnetic coil m4 to the input terminals through apush-button P.S1 and by connecting the electromagnetic coil m2 to theinput terminals through such an end switch arranged so as to be closedupon complete opening of the door 22 as shown by reference letter SE.vAccording to this modified apparatus, the shaft 10 of the device B isattracted rightward by excitationv of the. electromagnetic coil m2 uponcomplete opening of the door 22, whereby the switch S5 is restored andthe circuit of the electromagnetic coil m7 is excited through thefollowing circuit.

By excitation of the coil m7, the closing operation of the door 22 iscommenced and upon the complete closing of the door 22, the contactpiece g2 of the switch S5 is exchanged from the contact g1 to thecontact g3, whereby the circuit of the coil m3 is connected to the inputterminals, and charging operation of the stock-material of apredetermined amount into the weighing tank 2l and stop of said chargingoperation are carried out as in the case of the apparatus in FIG. l.

When a predetermined amount of the stock-material supplied in theweighing tank 21 is to be discharged, it is only necessary to push thepush-button P Sl inserted in the circuit of the electromagnetic coil m4.The discharge operation in this case is entirely the same with that inthe apparatus in FIG. l.

In the above mentioned Inodilied apparatus, if the electromagnetic coilm4 is connected to the switch S5 as in the case of the apparatus in FIG.l, the above mentioned charging and discharging operation areautomatically repeated.

Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 3, which shows electricalconnections only. This apparatus is related to thel case, in which theweighing tank is not provided with the main discharge device such as thedoor 22 in FIG. l. In this case, the main discharge operation isperformed, for example, by overturning the weighing tank.

The operation of the apparatus in FIG. 3 is as follows. When theweighing tank (not shown) is empty and the balance beam 1 is in such alowered position as shown by full line in the drawing, the contact piecep1 is brought in contact with the contact p3, whereby theelectromagnetic coil m3 ofthe switch S3 is connected to the inputterminals t1 and t2 through the following circuit.

By excitation of the coil m3, the switch S3 is closed and the chargingoperation of the stock-material into the weighing tank is carried out asin the case of the apparatus in FIG. l. Upon complete charge of theweighing tank with a predetermined amount of the stock-material, thebalance beam 1 is restored to its balance position and the light beam isdirected to the photoelectric relay R, whereby the contact piece p1 isbrought in contact with the contact p2 and the contact p3 is opened. Byopening of the contact p3, the circuit of the coil m3 and the switch S3are opened and the charging operation is stopped. By closing of thecontact p2, the circuit of the electromagnetic coil ms of the switch S6is closed through the following circuit.

l-mc-PamFl-Sz-z Accordingly, the excess amount of the chargedstockmaterial is discharged as in the case of the apparatus in FIG. 1.In this case, the electromagnet m8 is excited upon closing of thecontact p2, whereby the crank-lever 41 pivoted at a pivotal shaft 41a isturned clockwise and the switch S10 is opened by the weight 42, so thatthe excitation of the coil m3 is surely stopped even when chattering ofthe contact piece p1 occurs. In this state, the electromagnet m1 isexcited through a time relay TG3 upon the clockwise turning of thecrank-lever 41 because of the closed state of the switch S9, the timelag of said relay being selected so as to make excitation of theelectromagnet m1 delay for a time needed for the complete discharge ofthe excess amount of the stock-material.

By excitation of the electromagnet m1, the switch S2 is opened by thedisc piece 11, whereby the circuit of the contact piece p1 is surelyopened and operations of all parts of the apparatus are stopped.

If the charged stock-material in the Weighing tank is discharged, forexample, by overturning the weighing tank manually, and said tank is tobe charged again with the stock-material, it is only necessary to pushthe push-button P.S, whereby the electromagnetic coils m2 and m9 areexcited. By excitation of the electromagnet m9, the crank-lever All isturned counterclockwise and the. switch S9 is opened and the switch S10is closed. By excitation of the electromagnetic coil m2, the shaft 10 isattracted rightward, whereby the switch S2 is restored. Accordingly, theapparatus is restored to the state shown in the drawing and chargingoperation of the weighing tank with the stock-material is carrie-d outagain as described above.

While I have described particular embodiments of my invention, it will,of course, be understood that I do not wish my invention to be limitedthereto, since many modicatons may be made and I, therefore, contemplateby the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall withinthe truel spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

l. An apparatus for precise weighing of a predetermined amount of anystock-material, comprising a weighing tank provided with a maindischarge device capable of discharging the weighed stock-material, anauxiliary discharge device capable of discharging an excess amount ofthe stock-materail from said tank, a driving means for said auxiliarydischarge device, a weighing device having a member which responds tochanges in weight of the stock-material in the weighing tank so as totake a medium-position or an excess-position according to apredetermined amount or an excess amount of the stock-material chargedin the weighing tank, a charging device for charging the stock-materialinto the weighing tank, driving means for said charging device', a rstelectric circuit including the driving means of said auxiliary dischargedevice, a second electric circuit including the driving means of saidcharge device, a contact inserted in the second circuit which is openedby energizing of said irst circuit, and an electric switch deviceincluding said rst and second circuits and capable of being exchangedfrom one circuit to another, electromagnetic means whereby said electricswitch device is opened or closed in response to the displacement ofsaid member of the weighing device to said medium or excesspositionWithout accompaniment of any mechanical resistance against saiddisplacement, said displacement of said member of the weighing device tothe excess-position causing said lirst circuit to be energized throughsaid electric switch device so as to make the auixiliary dischargedevice operate and said contact in said second circuit to be opened, andsaid displacement of said member of the weighing device to themedium-position due to the auxiliary discharge operation causing saidfirst circuit to enema? be opened through said electric switch devicewithout accompaniment of any mechanical resistance.

2A Any apparatus for precise weighing of any stockmaterial, comprising aWeighing tank provided with a main discharge device capable ofdischarging the stock-material which has been weighed, an auxiliarydischarge device capable of discharging an excess amount of thestock-material out of said tank, a driving means for said auxiliarydischarge device, a weighing device having a member which responds tochanges in weight of the stock-material in the weighing tank so as totake a medium-position or an excess-position, respectively, according toa predetermined amount or an excess amount of the stock-material chargedin the weighing tank, a charging device for charging the weighing tankwith the stockamaterial, a driving means for said charging device, afirst electric circuit including the driving means of said auxiliarydischarge device, a second electric circuit including the driving meansof said charging device, a contact changing means which opens a contactin the second circuit upon energizing of the rst circuit, electricoperating means for said Contact changing means, and an electric switchwhich opens or closes in response to said displacement of said member ofthe weighing device to the medium or excess position, said displacementof said member causing said rst circuit to be closed and energizedthrough said electric switch, thereby operating means for said Contactchanging means so as to open the contact of said second circuit, and thedisplacement of said member of the weighing device to themedium-position in response to the discharge of the excess amount of thestock-material causing said switch to open the rst circuit so as to stopthe auxiliary discharge operation.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 615,201Richards Nov. 29, 1898 2,040,660 Lenhart May 12, 1936 2,057,380 KeefeOct. 13, 1936 2,212,419 Harmon Aug. 20, 1940 2,451,891 Vagim Oct. 19,1948 2,466,386 Curioni Apr. 5, 1949 2,610,726 Howard Sept. 16, 19522,776,103 Bradley Jan. 1, 1957

